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New Windows 10 Update Reported To Cause PC Boot Errors [Updated]

This article is more than 4 years old.

Windows 10 is still a buggy mess, but the death of Windows 7 means millions of users suddenly have no choice but to upgrade (good thing you can still do this for free). That said, users new and old alike now need to take notice of a serious new update warning. 01/27 update below

MORE FROM FORBESHow To Upgrade To Windows 10 For 'Free' In 2020

First spotted by the ever-alert Windows Latest, a new Windows 10 security update (KB4528760) is causing significant problems and the site notes it “now appears to be widespread.”

Explaining the chain of events, Windows Latest says the installation of KB4528760 first fails to install, issuing “several generic error messages” which don’t give any indication what caused the problem. From there it’s a downward spiral as the next time the computer restarts it fails to boot. 

“The recent KB4528760 update for Windows 1909 seems to be causing issues with some computers and stopping them from booting. Presenting the error code 0xc000000e. Increasing number of machines hitting this issue after installing this update,” explained one user on the official Microsoft Community forum. 

Interestingly, Windows Latest notes that some users have tied the problem to Microsoft’s “retired” Connect app. While it isn’t the only scenario, users who have the app installed or even had the app but uninstalled it, seem to be particularly badly affected. The site says only a full reinstallation of Windows 10 can fix the problem, aka the nuclear option. 

What makes Windows Latest’s warnings particularly important is Microsoft has yet to acknowledge the problem. In fact, at the time of publication, if you go to the KB4528760 support page the company still states “Microsoft is not currently aware of any issues with this update.” This repeats a series of similarly slow responses in the last year (1,2,3,4) and this is disappointing because it encourages Windows 10 users to keep installing this potentially damaging update. 

So to the millions of Windows 7 users rushing to upgrade to Windows 10 while the upgrade still remains free (and really, you have to): Welcome aboard, you’ll get used to this. For the almost one billion users who are already running Windows 10, you know what you’re in for at this point. The good news on the horizon is Microsoft is making fundamental changes to improve Windows 10 updates, the bad news is the company’s entire testing process is fundamentally flawed

01/26 Update: Windows 7 users continue to express doubts about moving to Windows 10 (this news won't have helped), but Microsoft has today given you a taste of what to expect if you try to stay on the platform. Picked up by AskWoody, the blog of respected journalist Woody Leonard, Microsoft has acknowledged it left a bug in its final Windows 7 update which can turn wallpapers black. The company has promised to fix it, but only if you pay to join the Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) - a service which, even then, is only available to enterprises. Everyone else, gets nothing and the same will be true when more serious security flaws are found as well. Like it or not, it's time to move (and for free while you still can).

01/27 Update: Hold The Presses! Microsoft has today backtracked over its embarrassing final Windows 7 update which could leave users with black wallpapers. Following angry feedback from users, Microsoft now said it will offer a patch to all users after initially saying anyone who wanted a fix would have to join the company's paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Common sense has prevailed in this instance, but don't expect any more freebies. This is a short term reprieve and all Windows 7 users now need to migrate to Windows 10.

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